Season over for Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden

The Swiss speed specialist Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden, who injured her right kneww in December in the downhill in Lake Louise (CAN) needs to have an operation next Tuesday in St. Gallen (SUI).

The junior world champion in downhill from 2006 had to pause for several weeks after the North American tour and intended to return to racing at the home World Cup in St. Moritz but has to end the season prematurely now. The cruciate ligament in her right knee must be reconstructed in order to ensure stability of the knee joint.

Following the operation Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden will need four to six months to recover. This season her only World Cup result was 23rd place in the season opening downhill in Lake Louise. Along with two other top ten results, her best World Cup result so far is a 3rd place in Crans-Montana in March 2010.